Omnivore is a regular report on some of the things that I’ve been enjoying during the week (or thereabouts).

Lots of Radiohead this week as I deal with the fallout from a bad, bad week or two. I’ve also got my hands on the new Tom Waits and have also been trying to look for the Pink Floyd remasters, but they’re kind of an endangered species here.

Been reading lots of Gary Snyder. Also read the very memorable Guadalajara by Quim Monzó. Oh yes, I also did Antony and Cleopatra last weekend, which I found hilarious.

Which is why I do not intend to review Parallel Lives. Enough people will do so that several will surely do a better job than I could; Jonathan Lethem reviewed 2666 for the New York Times, and, to be honest, I find such a high level of competition intimidating. The case might be different if I hated the novel, if I believed that all the hype was just a ploy to move copies, but I do not believe these things. If you have come here to know, simply, if you should read this book, then the answer is yes. It is one of the best novels I have read, and I recommend it indiscriminately.

A collection of works from the Musée d’Orsay, including paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, will be at the National Museum of Singapore from 26 October 2011 to 5 February 2012 in an exhibition dealing with Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. There will also be lectures to accompany the event. Details in the link. [via National Museum of Singapore]

This is the final post in our week-long celebration of the Return of Derek Raymond. It is also the most powerful. The audio recording below is taken from the final public reading given by Raymond, who despite his failing health delivered one of his finest performances shortly before his death.